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Fremantle Dockers set to put up ‘full house’ sign for first Optus Stadium AFLW match

Mark DuffieldThe West Australian

Wednesday, 7 February 2018 3:36PM

Freo's AFLW clash headed for record sellout crowd

The West Australian

VideoBecause of a ticketing quirk, fans will be able to sit wherever they want.

Fremantle’s historic AFLW clash with Collingwood at Optus Stadium on Saturday has been sold out, with attendance capped at 54,000.

The West Australian understands that about 50,000 tickets to the game had been sold as of last night, with the remaining allocation exhausted today.

Sources said public transport concerns had not played any role in the fixture not being sold to the stadium’s full 60,000 capacity. Ticket sales were capped because they were sold on a general admission rather than a reserved seating basis.

Spectators will find their seats on a first come first served basis. The stadium, AFL and Dockers wanted excess capacity to prevent a spectator stampeded for seats.

To prepare for their first home match, the team took a tour of the new ground.

The West Australian

VideoTo prepare for their first home match, the team took a tour of the new ground.

“When it is not a reserved seat event you need to have additional capacity,” a source said.

The Dockers had been reluctant to put a figure on the likely crowd for the match because the low ticket price of $2 means that some people may buy their ticket and then opt not to go.

But the public’s curiosity about the new state of the art stadium and the fact that the match will be the first Australian Rules fixture there means the game is almost certain to smash the AFLW’s 24,500 attendance record at a game, set in round one 2017 for a Carlton and Collingwood clash at Ikon Park.

Camera IconOptus Stadium is set to be packed with footy fans for the first time this weekend.Picture: Getty Images

Fremantle are also hoping that the attendance will eclipse one of Australia’s more obscure attendance records for a womens Australian Rules event. In 1929 41,000 people packed Adelaide Oval to watch a women’s exhibition match between staff from a department store and a pyjama factory.

The game was the major attraction of a sporting carnival held during the SANFL bye weekend that year.

Dockers CEO Steve Rosich said the club was optimistic that the record could be eclipsed.

“We’re thrilled to be approaching what is likely to be an all-time record crowd for women’s football,” Rosich said.

"Given that the ground will not be sold to capacity for this event, we encourage members and fans to take this opportunity to secure the last available tickets.

“To those who do have tickets, it’s exciting to know you will be a part of history attending the first football game at our new world-class home.”

The Dockers hope that a men’s team training session and autograph signing before the game will encourage fans to get to the stadium early. The Dockers will train at 3pm.